Scuola Popolare di Musica di Testaccio

The school was founded in 1975 on the initiative of Bruno Tommaso with other Roman musicians, among them Martin Joseph, Tony Ackerman, Maurizio Giammarco, Giancarlo Schiaffini, Eugenio Colombo, Giovanna Marini, Michele Iannaccone and Danilo Terenzi; early activity was partly hosted at the Teatro Spazio Zero. Residents of the rione had priority in enrolment and free access to some workshops. There were 147 students enrolled and 20 teachers before teaching began, about 250 by the end of the first term, which ran from 1 March to 30 June 1975, and within two years a cap of 450 was imposed for want of space. In 1983 Giovanna Marini's Il Regalo dell'Imperatore went on a European tour.